In 1890 on a trek across Africa Baron Walter Von Saint Paul collected seeds of a small leafed plant. Much to the delight of indoor horticulturists the descendants of those Gesneriad seeds are now known as African Violets.
The African Violet (Saintpaulia) makes a terrific flowering house plant that will grow and flower under low intensity light found in the most homes. If natural light is insufficient, the plants can be grown successfully under artificial light. African Violets make an excellent plant for the home decorator or indoor plant enthusiast because they come in a wide color range and are easily propagated. The plants require about 1000 foot-candles of light for 8 to 12 hours per day for best growth and flowering. You can tell by the plant’s appearance whether they are receiving the correct amount of light. Leaves are usually thinner and darker if light levels are too low. Under these poor growing conditions plants may grow but will only flower infrequently or not at all. If this is the case you will need to add artificial light to improve the vigor of your plants and encourage them to bloom. Make sure you don’t carry things to the extreme in the other direction. African violets should not be exposed to direct sunlight. To much light will cause leaves to be yellowish green, the excessive light will stunt the plants growth and eventually stop the plants from blooming because of chlorophyll destruction.
Fluorescent lamps give the best results producing less heat and provide light at a lower cost. If you are growing your plants entirely under fluorescent light with no other natural light source they should receive about 600 foot-candles of light for about 14 to 16 hours per day. Suspending two 40-watt fluorescent tubes 12 to 15 inches above plants can provide this amount of light. Make sure the tubes are mounted in florescent light fixtures equipped with reflectors. African violets thrive when night temperature of 65 to 70F, in the summer when temperatures are higher you will need to move the plants in the coolest part of your home or in an air conditioned room.
Your plants will tolerate some dry air but will be happier with higher humidity. This is especially true if you live in an apartment building where the superintendent regulates the heat. You can be increase the humidity around your plants by setting pots in water-tight metal or plastic trays filled with wet pebbles or sand. Avoid placing pots directly in water or you will to encourage root damage from sitting in the water.
African violets are very particular about drainage. When preparing your soil mixture you can provide excellent drainage by mixing equal amounts by volume of horticultural grade perlite, sphagnum peat, and soil. Or purchase one of the packaged mixtures sold for African violets. For best results soil mixtures should have a pH of about 6.0 to 6.5. Plants should be watered whenever the soil surface feels dry to the touch. Be careful not to let it become hard or the let the plant wilt. You can water from the top or bottom, when watering from the top, apply enough water to the soil’s surface until it is thoroughly saturated then pour off the excess water from the plant’s saucer. Placing the pot in a container to which about 1” water is added is the best way to bottom water. When the soil’s surface is moist, pour off the excess water. Make sure that the temperature of the water is the same or slightly than room temperature. This will avoid any chance of spotting the leaves if water drips on the foliage.
Be careful not to over fertilize your plants. Excessive build up from salts in the fertilizer will damage the plants roots. The best way to apply liquid fertilizer is after a normal top watering. Water again with the diluted and pour off the excess water and fertilizer in the saucer.
African violets are easily propagated by leaf cutting. It will take about 7 months for your new plants to flower. Choose a firm healthy leaf. Cut or snap the entire leaf including the petiole or leaf stem. Trim the petiole to one and a half inches long. Mix up a rooting mix with a combination of half vermiculite and half sand. Make a hole in the center of the pot using a pencil then insert the petiole into the rooting mixture. Roots usually appear in 3 to 4 weeks after planting, leaves will appear 3 to 4 weeks after roots are formed. You can successfully propagate multiple-crown plants by cutting each crown away from the plant making sure each plant has a portion of the root system. Put each new plant in it’s own pot.
Check any plants that you bring into the house carefully for white fly or other pests that could infect your established house plants. You can control most insects and mites with insecticidal soap sprays. Adequate spacing of plants, sterilized soil, good air circulation, and daily removal of faded flowers and unhealthy leaves are all important for good African violet culture.
